Article merchandiser



Dec. 15, 1959 E. R. NATKE ARTICLE MERCHANDISER s Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 1, 1955 .Il VII.

Dec. 15, 1959 E. R. NATKE ARTICLE MERCHANDISER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNov. 1, 1955 iled Nov. 1, 1955 NATKE 3 Sheet -g 3 United StatesPatentOfilice 2,917,354 Patented Dec. 15, 1 959 ARTICLE MERCHANDISEREdmund R. Natke, Forest Park, 111.

Application November 1, 1955, Serial No. 544,201

1 Claim. (Cl. 31271) This invention relates to a new and improvedarticle merchandiser.

The grocery store has undergone considerable evolution in the pastyears. The availability of a store clerk to wait on a customer is now athing of the past. Everything is self service. In view of this thedisplay and merchandising arrangementv of the goods in a grocery storemust cater to and be designed to encourage customers to buy goods inaddition to those which they intended to. purchase in the same manner aswas accomplished by the verbal urgings'of the old time store clerk. Ithas been found by actual test that the merchandise which is mosteffectively sold is located at customer eye range or convenient graspinglevel. In other words the customer is reluctant to bend down or reach upespecially for those goods which they did not intend to purchase whenthey entered the store.

It is thus a principal object of this invention to provide amerchandising device which will tend to maintain more goods at customereye range without increasing the floor space of the grocery store.

An important object of this invention resides in the provision of meanswherein a vertical stack of goods, such as canned goods, isautomatically maintained with the top can thereof at customer eye range.

Another important object of this invention is to sup-. ply a cannedgoods merchandiser wherein a plurality of stacks thereon are uniformlymaintained with the top can thereof atthe same height regardless of howmany cans are removed from any of the stacks thereof.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a cannedgoods merchandiser wherein the stacks are maintained with the top canthereof at customer eye rangeby means of electrical mechanisms to effectan energizing of a clutch means or the like to cause the mechanicalraising of the particular stack wherein a can or cans have been removedso that the new top can thereof is again at customer eye range.

Other andfurther important objects and advantages will become apparentfrom the following specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the article merchandiser of thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

t Figure 3 is a perspective view detail of one of the merchandisecarrying shelves as employed in the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4- is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the. top portion of thedevice as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the switch mechanismthereon in shifted position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure1.

Figure 8 shows a wiring diagram for the electricalcircuits as employedin the article merchandiser of this invention. As shown in the drawings:The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an article merchandiserhaving a back wall 11 and end walls 12 and 13. The device as shown inFigure 1 is preferably arranged and constructed'to set on the floor bymeans of small legs or the like 14, but it should be understood that thedevice may be in the form of a wall fixture and still operate'in thesame manner. Generally the article merchandiser is employed to maintainarticles for sale or dispensing at substantially customer eyc range orconvenient grasping or reading level to increase and enhance the salesof those articles. merchandising stand or case is also a means fordisplay ing the merchandise. Particularly the device is "well suited tothe dispensing of canned goods or any goods or articles of uniform sizeand shape. i The article merchandiser as shown in Figure 2 has a bottom15 spaced above the short floor engaging legs 14 and constituting thebottom for the merchandise to be positioned in this apparatus. The back,ends, base, and legs constitute the frame supporting structure of thisdispenser. The operating mechanism is contained in a chamber beneath thebottom 15 and above the legs 14. This chamber has a front door 16 hingedat 17 to permit access thereto for servicing and/or adjusting theoperating mechanism of the device. The gate or door 16 is easily raisedabout its hinge 17 merely by pulling upwardly and forwardly at thebottom thereof. After the door is swung up against the front surface ofthe merchandiser the operating mechanisms are exposed for any attentionnecessary.

The merchandise dispenser or display stand conprises a plurality oflaterally spaced divider elements 18 positioned at regular intervalsalong the length of the merchandiser and leaving spaces therebetween ofa size to receive the merchandise desired to be dispensed thereby.Although the spacings of the dividers 18 have been shown uniform inFigure 1 it should be understood that such spacing could be of varyingwidths to accommodate various sizes of cans or other merchandise whichmight be placed in this dispenser. Similarly the depth of the dispenserneed not be for a plurality of cans or other objects, but may be onlyfor one article or any number as desired. However, it is preferable toemploy a dispenser having substantial depth to take and receive numerousarticles to be dispensed. A front wall 19, preferably of sometransparent material such as clear plastic or glass is employed as anenclosure for the merchandise within the dispenser and yet permit anunimpaired display of the contents to the customers in the store or thelike.. The front wall 19 extends upwardly to a position closely adjacentthe top of the dividers 18 and defines the top or outermostlevel ofgoods from which customers remove such merchandise from the dispenser.Figure 4 shows a sectional view through a number of the dividers 18wherein there is included a plurality of sprockets 20 at the bottomthereof and sprockets 21 adjacent the top thereof. Figure 2 shows anenlarged elevational view through the inside of one of the sections 18wherein a sprocket 22 is positioned at the rear and top of the divider18 and a sprocket 23 is disposed at the rear and bottom of the divider18. A shaft 24 extends transversely through the length of the dispenseras shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4 and carries the plurality of sprockets20 in spaced apart position thereon. Stub shafts 25 are provided in andsecured adjacent the tops of the dividers 18 to receive the sprockets21. shafts 26 are provided to carry the sprockets 22 and finally a shaft27 is employed to receive the sprockets 23. It should be noted that thesprockets 20 are drive Further the- Similarly stub 3 sprockets and thesprockets 21 22, and 23 are idlers and define generally a rectangularpath for chains 28 which are extended around each set of these foursprockets. Each .divider 18 carries two such sets of sprockets andaccompanying shafts and chain to provide for the separate independentlifting of the merchandise shelf 29 between each of the several dividers18. With this construction the shelves 29 may be at various levelswithin the dispenser as shown in Figure 4 to thus compensate forirregular removal of certain of the goods from various positions withinthe entire dispenser.

The detail construction of the merchandise shelf 29 as mployed betweeneach of the dividers 18 in this dispenser is important to the operationof the entire device. The shelves 29 include a top platform 30 uponwhich the canned goods or other merchandise to be dispensed is piled.The top 30 has downwardly extending side flanges 31 and 32 extending thedepth of the shelf. In other words the shelf is long and narrow andextends from the front of the dispenser at the transparent front wall 19to the back wall 11 of the device. The front end of the shelf 29 haslaterally bent flanges 33 and 34 constituting extensions of the sideflanges 31 and 32 respectively. These tab ends 33 and 34 act as guidemembers for the shelf at the front thereof to prevent cocking or otherirregular movement of the shelf as it moves vertically within thedispenser. The back or rearward end of the shelf 29 comprises similartabs 35 and 36 h c e b nt l e y f m th s de f an es 31 and 3. r pect vey n con itut gu e men s the s el at the'rear of the dispenser. In otherwords the flanges 35 and 36 abut against the back wall 11 of thedispenser for sliding movement thereon. Similarly the front flanges 33and 34 slide against the transparent front wall 19 of the dispenser.Intermediate the front and rear ends of the shelf 29 is a member towhich is attached the lifting chains 28 and 28a. This member has aprojection 37 on one side thereof coming through the wall 31 with arearwardly bent portion 38 having holes 39 therein. Similarly the memberprojects laterally through the side wall flange 32 of the shelf 29 asshown at 40 with a rearwardly bent end 41 having openings 42 therein.The openings 42 are axially aligned with the openings 39 and provide foruniform attachment to the spaced chains 28 and 28a.

As best shown in Figure 2 a slot or slit 43 extends verticallysubstantially midway between the front and rear of the divider members18. This slot provides passage for the extensions 37 and 40 of themember carry.- ing the merchandise shelf 29. The flanges 38 and 141 areheld to the roller chains 28 and 28a by means of rivets or the like 44.It will thus be apparent that movement upwardly or downwardly of theinner flight of the chain 28 will cause a concurrent upward or downwardmovement of the shelves 29. The shelves move translationally withrespect to the base 15 thereof causing the merchandise thereon to beraised to a position where a customer may easily remove articles fromthe top thereof through the top openings between the several dividers18. The shelf guide flanges 33, 34, 35, and 36 provide for thestabilized movement of each shelf 29 andprevent tipping or cockingduring the vertical movement thereof.

Representative samples of canned goods 45 are applied to the dispenseras shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The stacks of cans are of a height toenable the top can thereof to project above the front edge of thetransparent front wall 19 to permit a customer to remove that top can.When the last exposed can has been removed from between adjacentdividers 18 the entire shelf 29 is automatically raised to a positionwhere the succeeding row of cans 45 is exposed for customer purchase. Inorder to clearly describe the article dispenser or merchandiser of thisinvention the spaces between the dividers 18 are identified by he ener l46. As b shown in Figure 4 th ar icle Shelves or carriage members 29 maybe and are disposed at various levels. The function of the differentlevels may be understood when it is explained that perhaps a customer ora series of customers will remove more cans or goods from one column ofgoods whereupon that particular shelf 29 will be raised more rapidlywithin the dispenser than the other shelves. In such event the shelfhaving the top row of cans or other goods removedtherefrom will beraised so that succeeding rows of merchandise are successively displayedat the top thereof. This upward movement of the shelves 29 will continueuntilthere is no longer any merchandise in that column 46. However, asthe entire dispenser contains a plurality of spaces 46 there may beseveral devoted to one type of canned goods or other similar merchandisewhereupon it will take substantial periods of time to empty the entireapparatus of this particular goods. And, it should be understood that aslong as a position closely adjacent the uppermost displayed row on aswitch arm 54a.

of cans 45. This switch actuator is shown more particularly in Figures 5and 6 wherein the actuator 47 is spring hinged as at 48 to the side wallof the divider 18. A short stud like member 49 is attached to the leafactuator member 47 and projects through an opening in the wall of thedivider 18. On the innerend of the stud 49 there is provided a strip orbar member 50. This member 50 is arranged and constructed to contact apinlike member 51 which is journally mounted in a bracket 52 dependentfrom the top of the divider 18. An angle extension member 51:: isintegral with the pin or stud 51 and is arranged to engage a springswitch arm 53. The arm 53 carries a contact 53a for engagement ordisengagement with a contact 54 suspended or carried In the position ofthe device in Figure 5 the can 45 on the shelf 29 is disposed at the topor outermost position of the dispenser and has caused the switchactuator 47 to be depressed against the surface of the wall of thedivider 18 whereupon the switch contacts 53a and 54 are separated thusbreaking the electrical circuit to be subsequently described. The wiringdiagram is shown in Figure 8. However, when the last can in theuppermost row between any of the two dividers 18 is removed the switchactuating member 47 is permitted to swing outwardly thus causingreengagement of the switch contact points 53a and 54 to complete theelectrical circuit and cause the shelf 29 to be raised until asucceeding can or cans or other articles of merchandise move up into thetop or outermost position to again depress the switch actuator 47. If,of course, there are no more articles in the dispenser the shelf will bemoved to its uppermost position and thereafter the shelf will stop untilsuch time as more goods are placed therein for display and sale.

The actuating mechanism for the shelf movement of this articlemerchandiser includes an electric motor 55 which is mounted bysupporting brackets 56 to the end wall 12 of the dispenser. A shaft 57driven by the motor 55 extends laterally from the motor into a gear box58 also fixedly mounted on the end wall 12 of the dispenser.

is fastened to the shaft 24 by means of a cross pin 64. As shown inFigures 4 and 7 the drive shaft 24 has mounted thereon electrical coils65 and 65a beneath the floor 15 of the dispenser and adjacent each ofthe sprockets 20 and 20a carried on the drive shaft 24. It should beunderstood that the sprockets are merely journalled over the shaft 24and are not driven directly thereby. However, the electrical coils 65and 65a are keyed as at 66 and 66a respectively to the drive shaft sothat as the shaft 24 is rotatably driven so are the coils 65 and 65a.These electrical coils provide the electro-magnetic means of a clutch toimpart drive to the sprockets 2t and 20a to thereby effect a drive ofthe roller chains 28 and 28a and a raising or lowering of themerchandise shelves 29. A clutch plate 67 forms an integral part of theelectrical coils 65 and 65a and provides the mag netic surface forattracting a ratchet wheel 68 which is fastened to the sprocket 20 andsimilarly journally mounted for free running over the drive shaft 24.When the coil 65 is energized the ratchet wheel 68 and thus also thesprocket 20 will be gripped tightly to the clutch plate 67 by reason ofthe magnetic attraction created by the coils 65 to provide for theconcurrent rotation of the ratchet wheel 68 and the sprocket 20 with therotating coil and clutch plate 67. This of course causes a raising ofthe merchandise shelves 29 to place the merchandise at eye level forcustomers. Movement or energizing of the coils 65 and 65a is occasionedonly when there is no merchandise at the top of the chamber 46 betweenthe dividers 18 to thus permit the switch actuator 47 to swing outwardlyinto the space 46 and thereupon com plete the electrical circuit forenergizing the coils. In view of the fact the solenoids rotate with theshaft 24 the electrical connections thereto are of the conventional ringand brush type. As best shown in Figure 7 the end of the solenoid 65 isequipped with radially spaced annular rings 80 and 81 which constitutethe terminal endings of the solenoid coils. Electrical contact brushes82 and 83 springingly engage and make contact with the rings 80 and 81respectively. The brushes are formed on and are integral with brackets84 and 85 which are fastened to the underside of the dispenserstationary bottom 15.

As best shown in Figure 2 a pawl 69 having a ratchet engaging portion 70is pivoted at 71 for rocking movement therearound. The pawl and ratchet68, 69, 7t and 71 is arranged and constructed to permit rotation of theshaft 24 in one direction only. In other words the shelf 29 may only bemoved upwardly by reason of operation of the motor 55 and the energizingof the magnetic clutch 6567 with the ratchet 68 and sprocket 243. Aspring 72 anchored at 73 to the housing of this dispenser normallycauses the pawl member 70 to engage the ratchet teeth. When it isdesired to reload the dispenser of this invention the door 16 is raisedpermitting the operator to engage the handle 74 which is an extension ofthe pawl member 69 whereby the operator may push the hand lever 74downwardly causing the ratchet engaging portion 70 to be raised awayfrom the ratchet wheel 68 against the action of the spring 72 to thuspermit the shelves 29 to be moved downwardly for reloading withmerchandise to be displayed and sold.

The wiring diagram of Figure 8 shows a source of electro-motive-force 75being delivered to an electrical circuit containing one side 76 andanother side 77. A master switch 78 controls operation of the device.When this switch is closed the motor 55 may be energized when thecontacts 53a and 54 of the actuating switch at the top of the dividers18 are closed. In such event the particular electrical coils 65 and 65afor controlling one shelf 29 causes the magnetic clutch for that shelfto become engaged and thereupon provide for an immediate raising of thatshelf. In view of the separate coils for each shelf 29 it is possible toactuate them independently of each other with but a single motor byreason of the employment of the magnetic clutches. Further the mo- 6 tor55 will only run when any one or more of the plural contacts 53a and 54are closed. In the device as shown in these drawings it is contemplatedthe motor will continue to run after all articles are dispensed from theshelf until such time as more articles are placed on the shelf or themaster switch 78 is manually turned off.

In the operation of the device of this invention merchandise such ascanned goods or the like 45 is piled into the spaces 46 between thedividers 18. The upper surface of the dispenser is preferably atcustomer eye range level. The dispenser or merchandiser 10 is for thepurpose of maintaining goods to. be sold at customer eye level or in aconvenient position without constant attendance by a clerk. When thegoods such as 45 have been removed from any particular space 46 alongthe entire depth of the top of that space the switch actuator 47 isallowed to swing outwardly by reason of its inherent spring nature asshown in Figure 6 to thereupon close the electrical contacts 53a and 54to thus energize the coils 65 and 65a associated with that particularshelf 29 in that particular chamber 46. Thus the magnetic clutch 67grasps the ratchet-wheel 68 to thus impart rotation to that ratchetwheel and the adjoining sprocket 26 to thereupon cause movement of theroller chain 28 and the spaced apart chain 28a by reason of theenergizing of the coil 65a at the same time to thereupon uniformly raiseboth sides of the relatively narrow and well guided merchandise shelf 29until such time as the articles on that shelf come upwardly or outwardlyinto the position of the switch actuator 47 to thereupon depress theleaf spring actuator 47 and open the contacts 53a and 54 to break theelectrical circuit and stop further movement of the shelf 29 until suchtime as that row of goods is removed by customers or the like. It willthus be seen that goods to be displayed and sold are constantly atcustomer eye range level for convenient taking and to promote salesthereof without the urgings of a store clerk. It should also beunderstood that the size of the dispenser of this invention may beunlimited and may if desired occupy an entire wall of a store and befilled with one or numerous articles of merchandise to be sold. When thedispenser or merchandiser is emptied it requires an attendant to raisethe door 16 and disengage any one of the pawl members 70 by depressingone of the handles 74 to thereupon permit one shelf 29 to be moveddownwardly without backing up rotation of the shaft 24 and thus attemptto back drive through the gear box 58 or the motor 55. In other wordsthe clutch 6567 is disengaged when the shelf 29 is lowered at which timenew merchandise may be placed in the dispenser and operation of thedevice may be resumed to dispense articles and maintain them atsubstantially eye range level as previously explained.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be variedthroughout a wide range Without departing from the principles desclosedherein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereonotherwise than as necessitated by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A merchandise dispenser comprising a box structure having an open top, aplurality of laterally spaced apart vertically disposed divider memberspositioned within said box structure and defining a plurality ofside-byside vertically disposed compartments, a shaft disposedtransversely through said box structure near the bottom thereof andpassing through each compartment, a lifting shelf mounted in each ofsaid compartments for vertical translational movement, sprocket meansflanking both sides of each compartment and located within each of saiddivider members at the bottom and top thereof, said bottom sprocketmeans journalled on said shaft, an electrical circuit including a sourceof electrical power, and an electric motor, said electric motor arrangedto rotate said shaft, chain means mounted on said sprocket means in saiddivider members, each of said lifting shelves at- 7v tached to one ofsaid chain means on both sides of each of said compartments, saidelectrical circuit including independent electrically operated clutchmeans journalled on said shaft within each compartment, said independentelectrically operated clutch means drivingly interposed between saidsprocket means and said shaft for selectively raising each liftingshelf, said electrical circuit further including a hinged leaf typeelectrical switch means adjacent the top of said box'structure on oneside of each of said divider members and extending substantially thedepth of said divider members so there is one such switch means in eachof said compartments, said switch means arranged and constructed toindividually close said electrical circuit to actuate said electricmotor and simultaneously the independent electrically operated 15 clutchmeans located in the same compartment to thereby effect a raising of thelifting shelf in that compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,284,225, Norris May 26, 1942 2,289,807 Schaevitz July 14, 19422,479,396 Nelson Aug. 16, 1949 2,604,996 Smith July 29, 1952 2,698,699Skillman Ian. 4, 1955 2,707,142 Waite Apr. 26 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS421,513 Italy of 1947

